Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction is the feel good, brain restorative TCM sleep formula.! It is one of the best all-around formulas for sleep and stress. As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula it has a very long history of use for sleep problems related to stress and mood issues like anxiety and depression. It was originally described in the ancient text Shang Han Lun over a thousand years ago. A simple formula of just three herbs, two are from flowering plants, magnolia and gardenia, and the third is from a citrus fruit, bitter orange. It is also effective for digestive issues like bloating and fullness which can be a separate cause of keeping you up at night – dual benefits for those tackling sleep issues from different causes.
Actions:
- Reduces anxiety symptoms
- Improves sleep
- Decreases depression symptoms
- Boosts GABA and Serotonin for calm, peaceful thoughts
- Increases brain cell neurogenesis in the memory center
- Balances gut microbes
- Helps with digestive issues that can impact sleep
- Reduces stress hormones
Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction has an even bigger, hidden surprise benefit that regular OTC sleep remedies don’t have: brain cell regeneration by increasing neurogenesis (new brain cell formation) in the hippocampus, the vital memory hub of the brain. As a matter of fact, most OTC and prescription sleep remedies have the opposite, detrimental effect of degrading memory over the long term through anticholinergic actions.
Gardenia shows evidence of balancing neurotransmitters to improve sleep and reduce anxiety symptoms. In a study a simple formula with gardenia and soybean restored GABA and serotonin levels (both relaxing neurotransmitters) while lowering glutamate and dopamine (stimulating neurotransmitters). It also normalized the stress HPA axis which involves the pituitary, hypothalamus and adrenals while reducing inflammation factors and increasing beneficial gut bacteria linked to brain-gut health (Bai, 2022).
Another experiment measured the effect of Zhi Zi Ho Po decoction on hippocampal neurogenesis which is new brain cell formation in the memory center of the brain finding substantial benefits and also improvements in depression symptoms (Xing, 2015).
The combination of Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po decoction when tested for insomnia, similar to the effects of gardenia and soy combo was able to increase serotonin and decrease dopamine, both vital for quieting the brain before bed. Some of the key bioactives identified were magnolol, honokiol, hesperidin, naringenin, and apigenin which have powerful effects on GABA, histamine H1, and orexin pathways. The mechanism for relieving insomnia is thought to be the interaction of all these multi-pathways (Sun, 2021).
Studies showed improved despair-like behavior in mice, and its mechanism may be related to brain-derived neurotrophic factors increase in the vital hippocampus region of the brain (Wang, 2025).
The Zhi-zi-chi decoction’s gardenia fruit is sometimes paired with fermented soybean as a seasoning in food besides being a medicinal herb, known for anti-inflammatory and sedative properties. The benefits for insomnia were shown partly through improving diversity of the gut microbiota, the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters, and stress-related hormones (Bai, 2022).
Cosmetic Corner: Gardenia fruit improves skin moisture proteins, lessens redness in human study
Gardenia fruit contains bioactives known as iridoids that have skin benefits. Studies show it promotes skin cell migration (part of skin regeneration) and reduces cell damage by free radicals. Also important is its property to increase the moisture-retaining skin barrier proteins in the skin like filaggrin, loricrin, and involucrin. A 4-week randomized double-blind human study of those with sensitive skin showed improved stratum corneum hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL), less redness index and irritation measured by lactic acid tingling. The study found enhanced skin barrier and skin barrier proteins, supporting its cosmeceutical potential benefits (Zong, 2025).